Lakeland’s Northern Fells
Head to the northern end of the Lake District for some quieter routes at the Back o’Skidda.
Fed up with the crowds on Skiddaw and Blencathra? Looking for a quieter space for some ‘big sky’ wandering? Then the Back o’Skidda around the Caldbeck/Uldale Fells could be just what you’re looking for. It’s not quite as quiet as it was pre-pandemic, but it’s still relatively so; you’ll pass tens of other walkers rather than hundreds.
Mostly the terrain is rounded, grassy fellside with occasional outcrops, albeit with some stiff ascents/descents, but watch out for compass errors on Carrock – the underlying rock is unusual: gabbro, like the Isle of Skye.
There are dry valleys, wide open views across to the Pennines and Solway Firth, a foot-wetting ford to cross. Oh, and quite a bit of bog too…!
1
NY304373 Head up the short stub of tarmac track at the back of the walkers’ parking at Fellside Farm and through a gate into open access land. Follow the gravel track past two wide grassy side-tracks to the left and a disused quarry.
2
NY303367 Just before a side valley (Ingray Gill, with a small building on the far side), fork right onto a narrow grassy path. Follow the fenceline around some young woodland then drop to the Dale Beck valley. Now you have a river to ford! It’s likely to be just over boot height, but unless it’s more than this (when you’re best returning another day) then a short paddle adds to the adventure!
3
NY301366 Head directly uphill on the far bank – a wide grassy quad-track rises towards the (now invisible) summit of Brae Fell. This is a long slog uphill, but not challenging in navigation or terrain.
4
NY288351 The summit is marked by a low stone shelter and larger cairn. Head slightly left from this (roughly south) on a continuing quad track. In low vis, this splits a few times, make sure you take the correct line
– fork left about 50m from the cairn, then fork right in a slight saddle.
5
NY289342 A cairn and low stone shelter mark the summit of Little Sca Fell. Bear slightly left past these, then arc gently right over a shallow saddle to
Great Sca Fell’s small cairn. Continue over similar terrain, bending gently left as you rise again over boggy ground, to the summit of Knott.
6
NY296329 There’s a limited view from the summit, so take care to locate the correct path onwards if you detour to try to find a better view over Skiddaw. The main path heading east from Knott braids; take the more travelled left-hand one heading in a gentle arc towards the left side of the broad ridgeline. (Confusingly not as marked on older OS maps, you are taking the middle path shown on some newer 1:25k maps).
7
NY304329 Where the track clearly bends right, take a faint trod forking left to shortcut a corner. This slowly sidles down a gentle bluff, stay just right of (and above) a grough, as it enters heathery peat grounds. Stay on the faint trod across a boggy spring line by Gunners Well then step across over a headwater of the Grainsgill Beck and out to a wider stone and bog-festooned track.
8
NY310333 Head north-east on this track towards a small hut (MBA Great Lingy Hut). The track dries a little after this and rises gently to a distinct bend at Hare Stones (right below High Pike). Remain on the track until you can take a narrower path leading left and directly to the summit of High Pike.
9
NY318350 Continue on to a large stone shelter, then sidle left off the main broad ridgeline of Low Pike; don’t be tempted by tracks leading further east. Cross a track in a low saddle then continue slightly left onto a broad ridge (Deer Hills), aiming roughly for the westernmost of two transmitter masts. Pass near to some old disused mine workings then descend to a flatter area.
10
NY312365 Pass by the remnants of an old Y-shaped shelter wall then cross a track. Join a more prominent track at a junction and head left, descending to the stony track above Fellside. Turn right along this and down through the gate to return to the start. Fording the river
Extend your poles a little more than walking height, take your boots and socks off and roll up your leggings/trousers to as near knee height as you can get. Undo your rucksack waist and chest straps (for easy removal in case you slip), then use your poles to balance as you ford the beck. A convenient patch of soft grass takes the worst of the wet and gravel off your feet, then dry your feet and put your socks and boots back on. Ford done!